23 May 2017

Aviation air force chiefs have called for intelligence sharing within the African context to advance security within the region.

Air arm commander from Botswana Defence Force, Major General Innocent Phatshwane highlighted the need for closer collaboration in the intelligence area. “We should not fool ourselves into thinking that ISIS will never penetrate Africa. We would be ill-informed to assume that,” Maj. Gen said adding that there was need for preparedness and trust within one another as countries.

Secrecy in the intelligence community, he said, had no place in the 21st century as information sharing helps with preparedness in combating security challenges.  

American ambassador to Botswana, Mr Earl Miller emphasised on the need to enhance communication and cooperation among key defense leaders and decision makers in Africa.  “Security threats know no borders, today’s threats are increasingly trans national and challenges faced by one nation are often similar to those faced by others,” he noted.

United States Air Force Africa Commander, General Tod Wolters emphasised the need to understand the trajectory of each nation and their neighbouring country’s. “We are far better united that we are on our own,” he said making reference to emerging security threats such as terrorist groups and extremist organisations. “The pace of conflict in the 21st century is much faster than ever before so there is need to adapt,” he said.

Botswana is hosting the symposium as the first Southern Africa to do so, and twenty-nine countries are participating in this year’s symposium. From the opening remarks, countries emphasised on the need to share expertise in areas of training forces especially with limited budgets and resources as well as the need for regional cooperation in information sharing.

Nigerian representatives at the symposium noted that intelligence sharing was not forthcoming in the region yet that could help countries with preparedness in combating insurgencies.

Air power and force training remain a challenge for poorer nations in Africa as presented by different countries.

Representation of women in key leadership air force positions is also a challenge as evidenced by 28 African country delegations all headed and deputised by men. In Botswana’s case, Major Gen. Phatshwane attributed this to the fact that the first batch of female pilots started about 5 years back and as such had not ascended to such high position in the air force field.

The African Air chiefs Symposium is an annual forum for air chiefs from across the African continent to come together with the United States to discuss important regional and national issues, cultivate relationships and emphasise cooperation.

This year’s theme is focused on the training aspect of force development. The previous symposium was held in Germany last year which  focused on mobility. ENDS